3 Chicago Cubs who won't be back in 2027

October 05, 2026
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The Chicago Cubs had a disappointing finish to the 2026 season, going out in two straight in the Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres.

There will be changes coming to the Cubbies roster, in some part out of necessity as there are some big free agent decisions coming. 

Let's have a look at three notable Cubs who will not be back in 2027. 

Seiya Suzuki

The Japanese outfielder has spent his entire five-year major league career with the Chicago Cubs. He's a free agent this offseason, however, and the Cubs are not expected to get into a heavy bidding war for the veteran outfielder. They're expected to reallocate financial resources to bolster the pitching staff. 
If that's the way this shakes out, he'll leave a gaping void in the lineup, as he's averaged 22 home runs, 73 RBI and an .823 OPS over his five years on the North Side.

Kevin Gausman

Gausman will be 36 this offseason, and the two-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young contender isn't quite the ace he was over his five-year term with the Toronto Blue Jays. He posted a 4.83 in his nine starts for the Cubbies after they traded for him at the deadline. He'll be looking for one more notable contract in free agency, and the Cubs are unlikely to give it to him. 

Ian Happ

The longtime Cubs outfielder is entering free agency for the first time after a decade with the team. But it's clear that neither side is committed to a reunion. As mentioned earlier, the team needs to spend on pitching, and as for Happ, "everything's on the table," he said, acknowledging that returning is not guaranteed. 
He's been an All-Star and a four-time Gold Glover in Chicago. 
Teammates rave about him, and would love to see him back, but understand the realites and business side of the game. 

“Happer, he is the Chicago Cubs,” said soon-to-be-crowned MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong. “I know he loves this place and he kind of helped teach me how to love this place and play here. He’s played a very big role in this version of me so far up to this point.”

Honorable mentions of who might not return include Michael Conforto, Matthew Boyd and even Shota Imanaga.
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